Indeed, he paints a sad picture of poor stewardship and a lack of action to address problems concerning not only funds but also the quality of the organisation’s offering to the public.
However, in spite of Mr Swinson’s conclusions, Education Minister James Reed, the political head of the department responsible for the Heritage Trust, has decided that £800,000 of taxpayers’ money will be used in a bail-out operation. This will enable the trust to pay off overdraft commitments and, in effect, prepare for a fresh start.
In these difficult recessionary times many Islanders might wonder just how the necessary funds can be found to give the trust another chance. Some will question whether this is a wise or appropriate use of public money when there is so much pressure on government to keep spending under control.
In the present circumstances, such questions are very much in order, but it is necessary to look at the bigger picture. Heritage is about far, far more than expenditure on the sites and artefacts that are our link with past ages. It is at the heart of the Island’s identity and it is also a major reason why people from the UK and elsewhere find this such a fascinating, many-layered place to visit and enjoy.
In a nutshell, heritage makes us what we are today and also contributes in a major way to the image we project into the wider world. But, vital though our heritage sites and collections undoubtedly are, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that they must be managed properly.
It is, therefore, clear that the Heritage Trust cannot merely breathe a sigh of relief, pay off what is owing and carry on as if nothing had happened. New standards of financial control must be applied, new initiatives must be launched to improve the trust’s offerings at the many sites it administers, and new ideas are required to maximise revenues at a time when tourist numbers are continuing to decline.
These goals will not be easy to achieve, but there is now a stable platform on which new strategies can be built.
Dangerously near the eleventh hour, there is now no prospect of facilities such as Hamptonne, the Maritime Museum and the Occupation Tapestry Gallery being closed. Such extreme measures were, culturally speaking, always unthinkable. We should be grateful that they are no longer on the agenda.
